Leslie joined the Arts Center as interim executive director in June 2013, and became executive director in January 2014. Previously she was the principal of LWRPR LLC, an independent consulting firm advising clients on marketing communications and event planning in central New York. Prior to founding LWRPR in 1999, she was district director for U.S. Congressman Sherwood Boehlert, and also spent a decade in the airline industry as a public relations manager for regional and international airlines, and later as a lobbyist for the Air Transport Association, the Washington D.C.-based national trade association of the major U.S. airlines. She also spent several years in the advertising business as an account executive and new business development manager. Leslie has spent most of her summers in the 1000 Islands and moved to the River year-round in 2012.

Marcia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Communications at Buffalo State College and spent much of her career in Buffalo, NY working in the publishing industry at Prometheus Books, Inc., a mid-sized book publisher. Her vacations always seemed to bring her back to the River where she was born and raised, so this is where she has re-planted her roots. She feels very fortunate to have worked with books half of her life and now gets to work with art – two of her lifelong passions.

After being on the Board of Trustees for over 11 years with 9 of those being served on the Executive Committee, Joy joined the TI Arts Center staff in May 2015. She grew up in San Diego California and received her degree from Palomar College. She worked 14 years for the Sears & Roebuck Co,in Carlsbad, CA, in various management positions. Joy moved to Clayton in 1995 to own and operate a business. Her love for the TI Arts Center started over 25 years ago with taking classes and volunteering for several events and committees. She is please to now be apart of the team.

Marina was most recently a technical designer/quality control manager/seamstress at KaiKini Bikinis, LLC, and was in retail sales for KIKO Simple Goods in Kapaa, Hawaii. Prior to that, she worked marketing/outreach at Hawaiian Community Assets as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer in Anahola, Hawaii. A native of the 1000 Islands, she was also a teacher/intern at the Arts Center for five summers having taught weaving and assisted the then curator with exhibition installation and collection management.
Marina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Art from Wells College. She also spent time studying Georgian architecture and printmaking in Bath, England, and later studied toy making, oil painting, fashion design, and weaving through Syracuse University in Florence, Italy. Marina is happy to join the TIAC team!

Her affiliations to the Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum, (originally known as the Thousand Islands Museum Craft School) run deep as a Founding member; Steering committee 1973-1977; Board of Directors 1975-1979; and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, 1978-1987. Sonja was the first Curator of the collection until retirement in 2005. She is currently Curator Emeritus at the Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum and leads the "Wednesday Weavers" group every Wednesday throughout the year.

Sonja’s teaching experience includes: "Fashion Design and Textile Construction" at Jeff Lewis Bohlen Technical Center for 22 years, and she also taught at Jefferson Community College & Empire State College.

Sonja has received many honors including: New York State Fair 1956, 1st prize in garment show; by appointment of Governor Mario Cuomo, "Skilled Worker Emeritus" representing textile trades of the State of New York; and in 1990 Sonja was recognized by the German government with the honorable Industrie und Handelskammer of Sachsen: Golden Master's Degree, 2004.

Her community projects have included: Design and construction of four historic costumes for the French Festival 1974, "Napoleon and his Entourage.” In collaboration with Lee Hoffman, Sonja wrote and funded the first collections catalog: "An Introduction to the Collection" in 2000.

Sonja’s weaving instructors have included Lou Deller, and Barbara Decker as her primary instructor. She has attended workshops and classes every year and is a member of the "Cross Country Weavers," a national group of 30 invited weavers.

Sonja’s long affiliation to the "Thousand Islands Arts Center, Home of the Handweaving Museum" has been her most important "relationship" in addition to her family. She hopes to remain active with the TI Arts Center for a long time, in appreciation for all those countless people who spent their time assisting the growth of this important treasure of the Thousand Islands.

Title:

Finance Manager

First Name:

Alan

Last Name:

Hutchinson

Email:

Phone:

Bio:

Has been finance manager at TIAC since 2010. Owner of Corbin River's Heritage, a photography and bookstore since 1996.